Pinkerton Thugs
Encyclopedia
The Pinkerton Thugs are a punk band from Kennebunk, Maine
. While the band officially became the Pinkerton Thugs in March 1996 (taking their name from the infamous Pinkerton National Detective Agency
), the band has been together since July 1994 under a number of different names. The band, which initially consisted of drummer/vocalist Paul Russo, guitarist/vocalist Micah Smaldone
and bassist James Whitten drew influence from punk bands such as Sham 69
, the Clash
, Conflict
, and Crass
as well as Woody Guthrie
's political ballads. They were known for their spirited live performances as well as their radical anarchist political views. Attempting to put their ideas to action, members of the band formed a now-defunct collective called the Anarchist Liberty Union which set out to distribute anarchist literature for free and establish better communication between activists. During most of the band's existence, Paul Russo was also a member of Boston band The Unseen, whom the Thugs often played shows with.
Their recorded debut was a 7" E.P. titled "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit Of Shit" that was self-released on the band's own Police Records in the U.S. in August 1996 and re-released by Nefer Records in Canada in 1997. In addition to that record, The Pinkerton Thugs released two full albums ("The Pain and The Pinkerton Thugs" on V.M.L. Records in 1997 and "End Of an Era" on Go Kart Records
in 2000) a split 7" record with the Ducky Boys
, and a 7" on Go Kart Records
titled "The Times." The bands later recordings saw Paul Russo playing both drums and guitar in the studio while Tommy "Von" Gatton, who joined the band in 1998, played drums live. Shortly after the recording of "End Of An Era" in early 1999 Smaldone left the band to concentrate on playing rockabilly with The Racketeers. The band played a handful of live gigs with Scott from The Unseen and Bill Brown of Crash and Burn filling in before James Lynch of The Ducky Boys
joined as a permanent member. He only played one show with the band before he left to join The Dropkick Murphys
and the band fizzled out, playing its last show in February 2000 at the Karma Club in Boston, Massachusetts. "End of an Era" was released posthumously in June 2000, some 18 months after it was recorded. The band officially disbanded in October of that year, announcing their break-up via their website.
Following the band's demise Micah Smaldone and Tommy Von formed a hardcore band called Cops and Robbers which broke up in 2001. Smaldone has subsequently released three solo folk/blues albums and played guitar with Out Cold, the Shods, The Racketeers, and Fire on Fire. Tommy Von went on to play in Cut the Shit, The Prowl, Ironsides, and filled in for Righteous Jams. Paul Russo continued to play with The Unseen before leaving in 2003 and writing and recording his own music under a number of names including Paul and The Strings, The Strings, Six String Bullets, and Americana Romantic. He also played guitar with Boston punk band The Vigilantes from mid-2000 until their breakup in early 2002. James Lynch has continued to play with Dropkick Murphys since 2000.
The Pinkerton Thugs officially got back together in 2008 and are currently active. Micah Blue Smaldone did not participate in the reunion.
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
. While the band officially became the Pinkerton Thugs in March 1996 (taking their name from the infamous Pinkerton National Detective Agency
Pinkerton National Detective Agency
The Pinkerton National Detective Agency, usually shortened to the Pinkertons, is a private U.S. security guard and detective agency established by Allan Pinkerton in 1850. Pinkerton became famous when he claimed to have foiled a plot to assassinate president-elect Abraham Lincoln, who later hired...
), the band has been together since July 1994 under a number of different names. The band, which initially consisted of drummer/vocalist Paul Russo, guitarist/vocalist Micah Smaldone
Micah Smaldone
Micah Smaldone is a guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter originally from Kennebunkport, Maine. A founding member of the political punk band The Pinkerton Thugs, Smaldone is now mostly known for his solo releases as Micah Blue Smaldone which incorporate a wide variety of influences from country...
and bassist James Whitten drew influence from punk bands such as Sham 69
Sham 69
Sham 69 is an English punk band that formed in Hersham in 1976.Although not as commercially successful as many of their contemporaries, albeit with a greater number of chart entries, Sham 69 has been a huge musical and lyrical influence on the Oi! and streetpunk genres. The band allegedly derived...
, the Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
, Conflict
Conflict (band)
Conflict is an English anarcho-punk band originally based around Eltham in South London. Formed in 1981, the band's original line up consisted of: Colin Jerwood , Francisco 'Paco' Carreno , Big John , Steve , Pauline , Paul aka 'Nihilistic Nobody' . Their first release was the EP "The House That...
, and Crass
Crass
Crass are an English punk rock band that was formed in 1977, which promoted anarchism as a political ideology, way of living, and as a resistance movement. Crass popularised the seminal anarcho-punk movement of the punk subculture, and advocated direct action, animal rights, and environmentalism...
as well as Woody Guthrie
Woody Guthrie
Woodrow Wilson "Woody" Guthrie is best known as an American singer-songwriter and folk musician, whose musical legacy includes hundreds of political, traditional and children's songs, ballads and improvised works. He frequently performed with the slogan This Machine Kills Fascists displayed on his...
's political ballads. They were known for their spirited live performances as well as their radical anarchist political views. Attempting to put their ideas to action, members of the band formed a now-defunct collective called the Anarchist Liberty Union which set out to distribute anarchist literature for free and establish better communication between activists. During most of the band's existence, Paul Russo was also a member of Boston band The Unseen, whom the Thugs often played shows with.
Their recorded debut was a 7" E.P. titled "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit Of Shit" that was self-released on the band's own Police Records in the U.S. in August 1996 and re-released by Nefer Records in Canada in 1997. In addition to that record, The Pinkerton Thugs released two full albums ("The Pain and The Pinkerton Thugs" on V.M.L. Records in 1997 and "End Of an Era" on Go Kart Records
Go Kart Records
Go-Kart Records is an independent record label specializing in punk rock located in New York City. It also has a European division in Mannheim, Germany....
in 2000) a split 7" record with the Ducky Boys
The Ducky Boys
The Ducky Boys are a street punk band from Boston, Massachusetts. Since forming in 1995 in the Charlestown neighborhood of Boston, the band has spanned over ten years with two tenures that have led to four full-length albums and over 50 songs. The band derives its name from the name of an Irish...
, and a 7" on Go Kart Records
Go Kart Records
Go-Kart Records is an independent record label specializing in punk rock located in New York City. It also has a European division in Mannheim, Germany....
titled "The Times." The bands later recordings saw Paul Russo playing both drums and guitar in the studio while Tommy "Von" Gatton, who joined the band in 1998, played drums live. Shortly after the recording of "End Of An Era" in early 1999 Smaldone left the band to concentrate on playing rockabilly with The Racketeers. The band played a handful of live gigs with Scott from The Unseen and Bill Brown of Crash and Burn filling in before James Lynch of The Ducky Boys
The Ducky Boys
The Ducky Boys are a street punk band from Boston, Massachusetts. Since forming in 1995 in the Charlestown neighborhood of Boston, the band has spanned over ten years with two tenures that have led to four full-length albums and over 50 songs. The band derives its name from the name of an Irish...
joined as a permanent member. He only played one show with the band before he left to join The Dropkick Murphys
Dropkick Murphys
Dropkick Murphys are an Irish-American punk rock band formed in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1996. The band was initially signed to independent punk record label Hellcat Records, releasing five albums for the label, and making a name for themselves locally through constant playing and yearly St....
and the band fizzled out, playing its last show in February 2000 at the Karma Club in Boston, Massachusetts. "End of an Era" was released posthumously in June 2000, some 18 months after it was recorded. The band officially disbanded in October of that year, announcing their break-up via their website.
Following the band's demise Micah Smaldone and Tommy Von formed a hardcore band called Cops and Robbers which broke up in 2001. Smaldone has subsequently released three solo folk/blues albums and played guitar with Out Cold, the Shods, The Racketeers, and Fire on Fire. Tommy Von went on to play in Cut the Shit, The Prowl, Ironsides, and filled in for Righteous Jams. Paul Russo continued to play with The Unseen before leaving in 2003 and writing and recording his own music under a number of names including Paul and The Strings, The Strings, Six String Bullets, and Americana Romantic. He also played guitar with Boston punk band The Vigilantes from mid-2000 until their breakup in early 2002. James Lynch has continued to play with Dropkick Murphys since 2000.
The Pinkerton Thugs officially got back together in 2008 and are currently active. Micah Blue Smaldone did not participate in the reunion.
Discography
- Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Shit 7" (1996) (Police/Nefer Records)
- The Pain and the Pinkerton Thugs CD (1997) (V.M.L. Records)
- Another Day, Another Story split 7" with the Ducky BoysThe Ducky BoysThe Ducky Boys are a street punk band from Boston, Massachusetts. Since forming in 1995 in the Charlestown neighborhood of Boston, the band has spanned over ten years with two tenures that have led to four full-length albums and over 50 songs. The band derives its name from the name of an Irish...
(1998) (Police Records) - The Times 7" (1999) (A-F/Go-Kart Records)
- End Of an Era CD (2000) (Go-Kart Records)
External links
- The Pinkerton Thugs on Myspace
- Americana Romantic on Myspace
- Micah Blue Smaldone - Official page at North East Indie
- The Pinkerton Thugs - Pinkerton Thugs fansite
- Cops and Robbers on Myspace